Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor - Burl Ives

Jack was ev’ry inch a sailor

Five and twenty years a whaler

Jack was ev’ry inch a sailor

He was born upon the bright blue sea

Now 'twas twenty five or thirty years

Since Jack first saw the light

He came into this world of woe

One dark and stormy night

He was born on board his father’s ship

As she was lying to

'Bout twenty five or thirty miles

Southeast of Baccalieu

Jack was ev’ry inch a sailor

Five and twenty years a whaler

Jack was ev’ry inch a sailor

He was born upon the bright blue sea

When Jack grew up to be a man

He went to Labrador

He fished in Indian Harbour

Where his father fished before

On his returning in the fog

He met a heavy gale

And Jack was swept into the sea

And swallowed by a whale

Jack was ev’ry inch a sailor

Five and twenty years a whaler

Jack was ev’ry inch a sailor

He was born upon the bright blue sea

The whale went straight for Baffin’s Bay

About ninety knots an hour

And every time he’d blow a spray

He’d send it in a shower

«O, now"says Jack unto himself

«I must see what he’s about»

He caught the whale by the tail

And turned him inside out

Jack was ev’ry inch a sailor

Five and twenty years a whaler

Jack was ev’ry inch a sailor

He was born upon the bright blue sea